spanng="EN"Analise’s POV

    spanng="EN"Thest few days have been wonderful. My house was ready, and I had already moved my car into one of the garage bays. Charlie and I have chosen our bedroom suite, and we’re just waiting to pick up thest few items. Our home is warm and inviting, and I love it. I liked this home even better than the one I bought for Roger and me to live in after we got married. Roger insisted on having a home to his tastes, so I deferred to him.

    spanng="EN"I did my best to decorate the first vi, but I didn’t love it, not like I loved this house. Maybe because I never lived there, or possibly because he had moved another woman in there. But I have never felt the sense of peace there that I feel in our new home. Charlie has started bringing his clothes and shoes over. Saturday, just four days from now, we will be married. It’s almost surreal how much my life has changed in such a short amount of time. But I am happier than I have ever been.

    spanng="EN"My day was going well. The advertisements were up, and we were catching everyone’s attention. The initial jewelry sets that we had produced were flying off the shelves. There was also a huge increase in engagement ring sales. The pear–shaped set like mine hadpletely sold out. People want to recreate themercial, and they are loving my ring. They don’t have to know the story behind it or what it represents. I just like the fact that the beautiful ring is speaking to them, too.

    spanng="EN"I was waiting for Charlie to call to say that he had arrived to pick me up for lunch. I was dropped off early this morning. I was trying to get ahead of everything. My honeymoon starts soon, and I won’t be here to deal with the day–to–day things. Gwen and I have had numerous meetings with the different teams, as I wouldn’t be taking calls or messages while I’m out of the country. I’m very happy to say that the dress I wore in the ad was also flying off the shelves. We were increasing the line and adding new color options as well.

    spanng="EN"I was picking which of my jewelry designs to send to production next when I received the call that I was needed at the gate. I knew it had to be one of four people, and I made myself calm down. There was nothing to get upset about. I know that they were here to argue about the ‘stolen‘ jewelry.

    spanng="EN"“Who is it?” I asked.

    spanng="EN"“He says his name is Roger Cook,” Randy answered.

    spanng="EN"“I’ming, but don’t open the gate,” I replied. I grabbed my cell phone and headed out.

    spanng="EN"This would be less annoying than dealing with Joyce or Sasha. It should also be quick. I texted Charlie and told him that Roger was here, so it wouldn’t catch him by surprise. I left my heels on. I was about to put on ts, but the heels were part of my armor. Charlie loved my heels, and I knew I looked good in them. Roger saw me the moment I stepped out. He watched me like a hawk until I was twenty feet away.

    spanng="EN"“You look good, Elizabeth,” Roger told me. His eyes trailed all over me.

    spanng="EN"Randy almost rolled his eyes at Roger’s words. All of my gate guards knew the reason why anyone asking to speak to Elizabeth should not be allowed entry. They thought that it was funny that they didn’t know who I was, not yet.

    spanng="EN"“Why are you here, Roger?” I replied.

    spanng="EN"“My sister saw your weddingmercial at the mall. I’m here because you’re kissing another man. You’re my fiancé, Elizabeth. You shouldn’t be doing anything that would reflect badly on me or my family. My mother is upset. Frankly, I’m upset too. I would have preferred thatmercial to include me and allow mypany to profit from it. Fashion Forward is a goodpany, but they won’t care about you like I would. Pleasee. back to me and take your ce by my side. I fired Sasha. Your job is already waiting for you,” Roger told me.

    spanng="EN"“Roger, I returned your ring over two weeks ago. You’re no longer my fiancé. We’re not getting married. You should have received a notification of that already. You and your family are not wee to attend anymore,” I replied.

    spanng="EN"I saw the frown on his forehead. I knew that whoever received it hadn’t passed that bit of information on. I pulled out my phone and started looking to see who signed for it. I suspected two people, as Regina would have immediately shown everyone the new invitation. The other two would have hidden it and said nothing, hoping to cause more drama at the wedding. That’s not going to happen. Charlie has handled security for the event. If you don’t have the updated invitation, you won’t be entering the venue. No matter what they had nned to do.

    spanng="EN"I pulled up the email and saw that Joyce had signed for it. She believes that I can’t do anything to stop her. She doesn’t know about the new invitations or that the groom has been changed out. She is fully nning on showing up and trying to humiliate me. I almost wanted to let her try to cause a disruption, but I just can’t do it. I want my special day to go smoothly. I wanted wonderful memories of family and friends. The Vaughns are invited, but neither of their children is. I won’t be allowing anyone to spoil my day. Dad had even warned Seth not to bring Holden.

    spanng="EN"Several vehicles pulled up to the gate as I turned my screen towards Roger to show him. “Your mother signed for the delivery. She’s well aware that the Cook family is not wee at the wedding,” I assured him.

    spanng="EN"“How could you have reced me already, Elizabeth?” Roger asked. He was shocked that I would do that to him. “Why would you hurt me like this?”

    spanng="EN"“You can’t be serious, Roger,” I replied.

    spanng="EN"“It’s because she never loved you, son. She is nothing but a liar and a thief. She stole your designs and left you when yourpany was in its darkest hour. I don’t know what you told them, Elizabeth, to get hired on here, but don’t getfortable. I assume you lied on your resume. You can’t just steal another designer’s work and try to pass it off as your own. I already called Roger’s attorney for thepany. You’re going to pay dearly for what you did. I demand that Fashion Forwardpensate Roger’spany for the lost revenue. You’re a disgusting person, Elizabeth. I don’t know how you can hold your head up in public. You shameless Whore, I’m going to make sure everyone knows that Joyce’s shrill voice rang out.

    spanng="EN"“Yes! She is a homewrecker. Roger’s loved me for years But Elizabeth pressured him into agreeing to marry her. He agreed to marry me, for the sake of our child. Now, he’s demanding a divorce from me, it’s all because she won’t save hispany unless he marries her What about me? What about our unborn child? Don’t you care about the stress you’re putting me under, Elizabeth? I’ve never met anyone so shameless in my life,” Sasha cried out Fat tears rolled down her face as she faced the cameras.

    spanng="EN"“Why are any of you here?” I asked “This is a ce of business I’ve already canceled our wedding Sasha, since you enjoy milking this so much, let me help you with the truth. I was engaged to Roger for over nine months. You got with him three months ago, while he was still my fiancé, even knowing we were engaged. Your little love child belongs to your ex, not Roger, I can prove that as well. You and Joyce think I’m so easy to deal with. Let me assure you both, that’s no longer the case. Since you can’t learn from your mistakes, I’ll be happy to help you out. Those designs are mine, and only mine. I will make sure to sue you both for nder for what you said about me. We will meet in court to determine who owns the designs, so please be sure to bring proof. I will also sue you for any issues that result from your little performance here. Knowingly lying, especially when you are trying to cause intentional harm to my character, is a slippery slope,” I replied.

    spanng="EN"My words seemed to wake Roger up. “I’m the owner of thepany in question. I have never and will never use Elizabeth of any wrongdoing. I came here to speak to Elizabeth privately about our uing wedding. Anything else you promote is a lie, and Elizabeth won’t be the only one who sues you. Any lies you were given toe here today and cause trouble are entirely on the person who called you to get you out here. I hope you have a recording of their allegations. Otherwise, I will be suing you for creating this circus. Please leave, you’re not wee here,” Roger announced.

    spanng="EN"He was trying to block me from view, but I’m no longer ying along. There are too many people here with cameras for him to be able to protect me. I can’t believe he thought that his mother or his wife would ever y nice. But that is no longer my concern anymore. I’m done with the lot of them.

    spanng="EN"“Roger, how could you say that? Sasha is your wife,” Regina gasped out.

    spanng="EN"“Regina, stop talking right now,” Roger snapped out, but it was toote.

    spanng="EN"“You married Sasha Eliott while you were engaged to Ms. Wade?” one of the reporters cried out. I turned to Roger to watch his face as he realized he was exposed. I need to send something nice to Regina for doing the heavy lifting for me. I was going to wait until our wedding day to share that news. But it works for me to have it exposed today. I Didn’t want to deal with any of them anymore.

    spanng="EN"The scandal was going to break today, and I was about to fan the mes. “Save your breathe, Roger. I already knew. You wanted to humiliate me by making a mockery of me. Intent on marrying me, and then not filing it to make it official. No sense in keeping it a secret anymore. I’ve known you’re married to Sasha for almost three weeks. Let me assure you, I won’t be marrying you, but a wedding will be taking ce. I won’t be used for one more second, Roger. Take your wife and your family and leave. Do not return, or I will have you arrested for trespassing. Oh, and just so you know, if you try toe at me again, I’ll be ready. I don’t mind making sure that everyone sees just how vile the Cook family can be,” I told him.

    spanng="EN"“Vile?!” Joyce shrieked out. “How dare you, Elizabeth. You are nothing but a shameless woman. Parading around in a nightgown in thatmercial. Acting like a slut. It’s a good thing Roger didn’t marry Sasha. You are not worthy enough to join our family. The sooner you ept that fact, the better off we will all be.